Evo-Stik Division One South
Sun Hat Villas & Resorts Stadium, Lincoln
Saturday, 28th March 2015, 3.00pm
Gresley In Smash & Grab
Well - if you travelled to Lincoln to watch the game you'd be travelling home thinking how on earth did we manage to win that game? I'll tell you why. Some absolutely top draw goalkeeping by Liam Roberts and clinical finishing when the few chances appeared.
Roberts prevented his side from going at least two goals down in the first ten minutes or so with some superb saves as Lincoln opened the game using the very stiff wind blowing down the pitch to their advantage.
Gresley manager Wayne Thornhill made just one change to the side that beat Kidsgrove last Saturday with Martin Smyth returning into midfield with Rob Mulonga taking a place on the bench.
The hosts started well using the wind at their backs and had a glorious opportunity to have taken a really early lead. The ball found Scott Ruthven who was clean through but he fluffed his chance firing wide of the far post with only Roberts to beat.
Gresley won a corner but the ball was cleared and Lincoln broke quickly but a combination of fine saves from Roberts and a superb block from Matt Roome prevented the home side from going in front. Roberts made two breathtaking saves from Andrew Hutchinson and Ruthven with Roome making a terrific block to keep the scores level and that was with just ten minutes on the clock!
The Moatmen hit back with a long ball from Jack Langston who picked out Kieran O'Connell on the left. The frontman cut inside and laid the ball back for Langston who hit a powerful shot which was deflected for a corner.
O'Connell then had a decent shout for a penalty when after cutting in from the right appeared to have been hauled back by Sean Wright in the area.
Roberts was needed again when a loose ball from Alex Steadman across the field only for Matt Cotton to latch onto before firing a low shot which Roberts saved diving to his right.
At the other end Wright had the ball taken off him by O'Connell on the edge of the area but the final shot went straight into the midriff of keeper Rob Peet.
A few minutes later Gresley took the lead when O'Connell was brought down by Jason Field in the area. Steadman took the spot kick driving the ball into the bottom right corner despite Peet choosing the right way.
Somewhat against the run of play Lincoln leveled the scores. As Gresley defenders backed off Andrew Toyne unleashed a wind assisted shot from 22 yards beating the unsighted Roberts.
As the first half came to a close Lincoln almost took the lead into the break. Langston put in a good tackle only to see the ball go across to Sam Duncum who's first time shot found the sidenetting.
Gresley made a precautionary change at half time with Lucas Harrison replacing Mitch Hanson but it was the home side who made the first chance with Duncum forcing a low save from Roberts down to his left.
The visitors also went close when Langston's corner from the right was deflected twice and the ball then evading Smyth who had burst into the box.
Roberts was the busier of the two keepers having to deny Duncum with a one handed save as Lincoln was putting the Gresley defence under pressure. They also forced numerous corners but all to no avail as both Ruthven and Hutchinson put headers wide.
Gresley took the lead with a rare venture into the final third of Lincoln's half. Awarded a corner from the right, Langston sent in a ball to the near post and somehow Steadman managed to get his head on the ball heading it downwards and into the net.
Four minutes later Gresley took the lead with arguably the best goal of the game. A good move down the left saw the ball into O'Connell and Eric Graves continued his run into the area and O'Connell's pass was perfect for Graves who didn't have to break his stride before drilling the ball into the far bottom corner of Peet's net.
Yet another chance went begging for the home side. A header from Hutchinson came back off the bar to Cotton who somehow managed to head the ball over the bar from a couple of yards out!
Gresley had their backs to the wall for the final few minutes with substitute Jake Gibson firing a shot into the side netting but they managed to hold out and claim a very welcome three points and the double over the hosts.
